Lincolnton police have arrested a man in connection with the alleged toe-sucking case this week at a Walmart store.

Michael A. Brown, 31, of Concord, was taken into custody Thursday night. The arrest came several hours after police released a surveillance photo of a man leaving the Walmart store.

Investigators say a police officer in the Stanly County town of Locust recognized Brown from the surveillance photo.

Brown was charged with misdemeanor assault on a female.

The story had generated national attention.

Brown is listed as a registered sex offender in North Carolina. Lincolnton police said Friday that Brown was charged with similar crimes in the past. Records show he was charged in February 2001 with attempted sex offense in Cabarrus County.

Lincolnton police said the alleged incident took place about 11:15 a.m. Monday at the Walmart store on North Generals Boulevard.

Investigators said a man entered the store, approached a woman and said he was a podiatry student. The two began a conversation, police said, and the man talked the woman into trying on several pairs of shoes.

At one point, police said, the man held the woman’s foot, put it in his mouth, and sucked her toes.

The woman told police she thought the suspect was a Walmart employee. The woman said that after the alleged assault took place, she became upset, and the suspect offered to pay for her groceries.

The woman then contacted store employees, who called police, according to investigators.